The R2 Standard is the leading certification for electronics repair and reuse. As the housing body for R2, SERI maintains the R2 Standard, related documentation, guidance, and facilitates its ongoing development.

SERI works with partners throughout the lifecycle of electronic products to ensure that they are managed responsibly. SERI's programs focus on education, outreach, safety, and international development.

SERI offers a variety of educational and training opportunities for recyclers, as well as opportunities for auditors and consultants. These trainings focus on implementing the R2 Standard, realizing a return on the investment in certification, discussing relevant issues or challenges related to recycling practices, and other topics.

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When an R2 certified facility changes locations, the new location cannot be listed on the SERI website directory until a revised R2 certificate listing the new address has been issued. Here are the steps certified recyclers must follow when moving their facility:

As some of you may already know, SERI's Operations Director, Henry Leineweber, has accepted another position and will be departing SERI at the end of April.

Henry was one of SERI's first employees, hired in 2013 when the organization was still R2 Solutions. Over the years, he has proven himself to be a dedicated and resourceful member of the team, responsible for implementing key components of SERI's business plan, building relationships with stakeholders outside the recycling industry, and performing valuable strategic analysis for the organization.

SERI recognizes the growing role of mobile devices in the future of reuse and recycling electronics, and is currently seeking representatives from the mobile industry to add expertise to the R2 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). Candidates can submit their interest and qualifications in writing by May 10, 2017. SERI staff will interview candidates and selections will be made by the SERI Board of Directors.

According to Provision 5.e.2, a downstream vendor must adhere to a documented system to manage environmental, health and safety risks and legal requirements. There are two parts to this requirement. First, it must be a “documented” (i.e. written) system. Second, the downstream vendor must “adhere” to the system. Having a downstream vendor simply answer a survey or state that they have an EH&S management system is not objective evidence of their adherence to it – and does not in itself meet the requirement.

The R2 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) held an in-person meeting last month to continue work on revisions to the R2 Standard. A number of suggested revisions were considered for inclusion in the upcoming draft of the R2 Standard revision. A draft of the revised R2 Standard is anticipated to be released for public comment in late 2017.

During the course of its discussions, the TAC agreed on the following issues (any proposed changes must be approved by the Consensus Body, be posted for public comment, and ratified by the SERI Board before taking effect):

Provision 6 (Reusable Equipment and Components) requires an electronics recycler to implement a written Quality Assurance Plan (QAP). The QAP is a specific document that must be titled “Quality Assurance Plan” and included as part of the electronics recycler’s management system. A QAP defines methods to verify the accuracy of test methods, testing equipment, and records requirements. Its purpose is to ensure products are sold to the buyer in conformance with Provision 6 and any buyer specifications.

The rules for transferring certification from one CB to another are laid out in the IAF Mandatory Document MD2:2007. Transfer of certification is defined as the “recognition of an existing and valid management system certification, granted by one accredited certification body, (hereinafter referred to as current CB), by another accredited certification body, (hereinafter referred to as the “accepting CB”) for the purpose of issuing its own certification.”

When an R2 certified facility changes locations, the new location cannot be listed on the SERI website directory until a revised R2 certificate listing the new address has been issued. Here are the steps certified recyclers must follow when moving their facility:

The R2 Standard is the leading certification for electronics repair and reuse. As the housing body for R2, SERI maintains the R2 Standard, related documentation, guidance, and facilitates its ongoing development.

SERI works with partners throughout the lifecycle of electronic products to ensure that they are managed responsibly. SERI's programs focus on education, outreach, safety, and international development.

SERI offers a variety of educational and training opportunities for recyclers, as well as opportunities for auditors and consultants. These trainings focus on implementing the R2 Standard, realizing a return on the investment in certification, discussing relevant issues or challenges related to recycling practices, and other topics.